Dispensing container



DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed sept. 5, 1935 f Y i v(Itto'meg Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention is directed to a dispensing container of the measuring type wherein a predetermined quantity of the bulk contents of the container is separated from such bulk contents and thereafter delivered beyond the container.

The primary object of the present invention is the construction of the measuring drum as well as the cut-offs cooperating with such drum of sheet metal interlocked with the wall of the container to provide an economical, readily assembled construction for the purpose.

A further object of the invention is the provision of the measuring drum of sheet metal sections having edge flanges, with the edge flanges of one section fitting snugly within the edge flanges of the other section and such edge flanges being deformed to interlock the sections in drumforming relation; the measuring chamber in the drum being formed integrally by upsetting the metal of the sections to form interfitting flanges to provide an uninterrupted annular wall in the drum for measuring purposes.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a drum formed as described fitted snugly within one open end of the container proper, the wall of the container overlying the outermost fiange of the drum section being itself deformed to lock the drum as a whole in place; and the revolving cut-off plates for separating the measured quantity from the bulk and for delivery of the separated quantity beyond the container overlying and underlying the drum proper and being connected for unit movement by an axial pin to which the cut-off plates are secured.

A further object of the invention is the provision of the upper cut-off plate with an edge flange which overlies and bears upon the outer surface of the end of the container in which the drum is secured, with guiding and limiting means for the rotative movement of the cut-off plates to insure proper operation.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a broken view of a container showing the measuring dispensing means at one end and illustrating particularly the limit means for the rotation of the cut-off plates.

Figure 2 is a vertical section, partly in operation, of the drum and cut-off plates in proper relative positions to each other and to the end of the container body.

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2.

The important detail of the present invention is the construction of the drum and the cut-off plates with a View to economy of labor and material while insuring full operative function.

The drum proper is made up of an upper sheet metal section I and a lower sheet metal section 2. These sections are formed with edge flanges 3 and 4 respectively which are of less vertical dimension than the desired spacing of the sections I and 2. These anges 3 and 4 interfit snugly one within the other and are intended to preferably provide a frictional engagement though this is 10 not relied upon particularly to insure a proper form of the drum.

At an appropriate point to one side of the axial center, the upper and lower sections are formed by appropriate cutting and pressure to 15 present annular flanges 5 and 6, which are integrally formed with the respective sections I and 2 and intert to provide an opening that is the measuring chamber through the drum having an annular wall made up of the interfltting 20 flanges 5 and 6.

Of course, it is to be understood that the opening in the drum is to be of a size which will receive the predetermined quantity of material and that the respective flanges 5 and 6 are 25 appropriately formed in the respective sections I and 2 to provide an opening that is the measuring chamber of the desired Size. Thus, the opening may be made one-quarter, one-half, one, two or more spoonsful or of a size to receive any 30 other quantity.

Underlying the drum is a lower cut-off plate 1 formed with an opening 8 of a size to register with the measuring chamber 9 formed by the flanges 5 and i5 to establish communication between the 35 interior i@ of the container I I and the measuring opening. An upper cut-off plate I2 overlies` the drum and is formed with an opening I3 which, when the parts are assembled, is automatically opposite the opening 8 in the lower cut-off plate.

The upper and lower cut-off plates are connected by a pin lli which extends axially of the drum and may be headed beyond the respective cut-ofi plates and is fixed with relation to both cut-ofi plates, as by soldering or the like. The 45 pin it unites the cut-ofi plates and compels simultaneous movement thereof, so that it is impossible to simultaneously register the openings 8 and I3 with the measuring chamber 9.

The upper cut-olf plate is extended upwardly at its edge and formed in a return bend to provide a strengthening bead I5 and then extended as a depending wall I6 to overlie the wall of the container I I adjacent one end thereof. The bead i5 provides a convenient finger-hold in order 55 that the cut-off plate may be rotated to their respective positions, as will be evident.

As illustrated, the flanges 3 and 4 and the upper portion of the wall of the container are deformed by rounded depressions I1 fitting one within the other and providing means for interlocking the sections I and 2 of the drum against displacement and also for interlocking the drum to the container wall.

Obviously, these deformations can take place at a single operation and apparently any other conventional deformations may be provided in the respective walls and lflanges to secure the parts in the manner described. The purpose of the particular construction is to provide a means for easily and simply securing the drum-forming parts together and securing the drum in the container, particularly a construction which is free of extraneous securing means, such as soldering and the like, which materially adds to the cost of the structure.

Where the deformed parts are of the rounded depression type, as illustrated, the wall I6 of the upper cut-off plate may have a projection I8 which fits into the rounded depression in the wall of the container and thus guides the cutoff plates and tends to prevent outward separation of the upper cut-off plate.

Further, the wall I6 of the upper cut-off plate is reduced in vertical dimension for a portion of its circumference to provide shoulders I 9 and the wall of the container is out-struck or indented from the inner side to provide a projection which limits the rotative movement of the cutoff plates toI a position at one limit to establish communication between the opening 8 and the measuring chamber 9 and at the other limit to establish communication between the opening I3 and the chamber 9.

From the above construction, it will be apparent that the drum and cutsoff plates are readily and conveniently assembled without the necessity of extraneous securing means except possibly the soldering used to secure the cut-off plates to the pin I4; that the measuring chamber is formed by fianges integral with the upper and lower drum sections; that the upper cut-off plate is guided by the outer surface of the wall of the container; and that the entire structure may be readily and simply made up of sheet metal, formed and assembled with the minimum of labor and expense.

Of course, the dispensing operation is well known in this class of devices. With the cut-olf plates to one limit, as defined by the stop 20, the opening 8 is in register with the measuring chamber 9 and the container bulk is directed into this chamber 9 by appropriately positioning the container, with the result of filling the chamber. Rotation of the cut-ofi plates to the opposite limit closes the communication between the interior of the container and the measuring charnber 9 and registers the outlet opening I3 with the registering chamber, thus permitting convenient discharge of the contents of the measuring chamber.

, What is claimed to be new is:

1. A measuring dispenser including a bulk container, a drum carried by one end of the container, said drum being made up of spaced sections having interfitting edge fianges, with the contacting portions of the edge flanges deformed to maintain the sections in drum-forming relation, the sections being further formed within their outline with integral flanges projecting toward each other and snugly interfitting to define a measuring chamber, and cut-ofi plates above and below the drum and formed with openings for selective registry with the measuring chamber.

2. A construction as defined in claim, 1, wherein the drum is fitted within the wall of the openended container, the wall of the container and the contacting fiange ofthe drum being deformed to secure the drum in position in the container.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the cut-off plates are secured to a pin extending axially of the drum.

4. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper cut-ofi plate has an edge wall overlying and bearing on the outer surface of the wall of the container.

5. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the uppermost cut-off plate is formed with an edge reinforcing flange, a depending wall to bear on the outer sur-face of the wall of the container, and cooperating guiding means between said depending wall and the wall of the container.

6. A construction as defined in claim 1, including means carried by the cut-off plates and cooperating means carried by the container wall for limiting the cut-off plates in their movement with respect to the measuring chamber.

'I'HEODORE BAILEY. 

